Tag: from australia

Luka is starting her first day of school in the Netherlands today. After having lived in Australia for the last three years we moved back to the Netherlands last month. With it still being summer holiday, the new school year did not start until today.

We moved to a new city and Luka is starting at a brand new school. Although she has lived in the Netherlands for 7 years and speaks Dutch, English is now as her native language. At the moment it is easier for her than Dutch. When she speaks Dutch it takes a bit longer, as she translates from English.

No more ‘mama-taxi’ to bring the kids to school. The Netherlands is a bicycle country, where a bicycle is a mode of transport. With separate bike paths almost everywhere and bicycles having many rights on the roads. Most kids know how to ride a bike before they can even walk.

Flashback to 2008: Luka, not even three months old is riding ‘on’ the bike

As all kids ride bicycles this means that car drivers have bicycle experience as well and know how to pass a bicycle with care. This was not always the case in Australia, where Oliver once got hit by the rear view mirror of a car when riding his bike.

One thing that remained the same is the lunchbox that she brings to school.

Her school starts at 8.30 am and ends at 2 pm. The difference being that the breaks are A LOT shorter than in Australia.This came as a big shocker to Luka.

Recess: 15 vs 30 min
Lunch: 30 vs 60 min

Another big difference is that there is no school uniform in the Netherlands.

Luka picked a colorful schoolbag, no more school backpack with school logo

We are a family of four, with two children aged 9 and 11. In December of 2014, we made the decision to make the big move from the Netherlands to Australia. We turned this plan into reality in June 2015 and re-located to Melbourne, Victoria.